Tube or pipe cleaner.



E. HOGLUND.

TUBE OR PIPE CLEANER.

APPLIOATION FILED APR. 2, 1908.

Patented Nov. 3, 1908.

Elnvanhyz I alibi/neg:

ERIK HOGLUND, OF OTTUMWA, IOWA.

TUBE 0R PIPE CLEANER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 3, 1908.

Application filed April 2, 1908. Serial No. 424,818.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ERIK HOGLUND, a citizen of the United States, residing at Ottumwa, in the county of VVapello and State of Iowa, have invented a new and useful Tube or Pipe Cleaner, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to cleaners such as are used in removing incrustation from the interior of boiler tubes and water pipes, and particularly to that type of cleaner employing a rotary cutter, which is actuated by a turbine wheel. It is well known that in many devices of this kind now in use, the gas or liquid power used to rotate the turbine is admitted to the latter either through the means of a supply pipe connected to the turbine casing, or the tube to be cleaned. There are many objections to this last named manner, chief among which is that a great portion of the gas or liquid escapes through the opening between the turbine casing and the wall of the tube or pipe, thereby diminishing the power of the cutter blade. The former method, that of connecting a supply pipe with the turbine casing, while reducing to the minimum the amount of driving power lost, still has the disadvantage of offering no means to guide the cleaner during its journey through the pipe or tube.

The present invention aims to remedy this defect by employing a means which will positively prevent the escape of the power driving liquid or gas and another means to in crease the force of the driving power after the same leaves the supply pipe and before engaging the turbine.

Still another object is to provide a supply pipe which will at all times be stationary during the operation of the cleaner, and yet ad mit of a means to guide the latter throughout its journey through the pipe.

With these and other objects in view, as will more fully hereinafter appear, the invention consists in certain novel features of construction and arrangement of parts, hereinafter fully described, illustrated in the ac companying drawings, and particularly pointed out in the appended claims, it being understood that various changes in the form, proportions, size and minor details of the structure may be made without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any of the advanta 'es of the invention.

In t e accompanying drawings :Figure 1 is a longitudinal view, partly in section,

through a water pipe showing the position of the device ready for operation, and a plan view of the means for admitting the guiding member to the supply pipe. Fig. 2 is a sectional view of the supply pipe disclosing the offset for admitting the guiding member. Fig. 3 is a view of the reducing cap used when cleaning a boiler tube. Fig. 4 is a detail view of the cutters. Fig. 5 is a sectional view taken on the line 5-5 of Fig. 1, showing a portion of the turbine blades cut away and disclosing the openings at the opposite ends of the turbine casing. Fig. 6 is a similar view on the line 66 of Fig. 1, showing the cap and parts for admitting the gas or liquid to drive the turbine. Fig. 7 is a detail section on the line 7-7 of Fig. 2.

Similar numerals of reference are employed to indicate corresponding parts throughout the several figures of the drawings.

In the construction illustrated in Fig. 1, a shell or casing 1 is preferably formed of metal with an exterior diameter sufficient to permit of its passage into the tube or pipe 2. The shell or casing has formed at either end heads or walls 3 and 4. The rear wall 3 is adjacent its edge provided with a series of equally spaced ports 5, the walls of which converge for a purpose to be described later. The opposite wall 4 is similarly provided with openings. The rear wall 3 is centrally provided with a seat 6 into which is entered the rear end of the turbine shaft 7, the extreme end of which extends through and beyond a central opening formed in the wall 4. On that portion of the shaft disposed within the shell or casing 1, and adjacent the inner face of the front wall 4 is formed a collar 8, and keyed or otherwise secured to the shaft between the collar and the inner face of the rear wall 3 is the turbine wheel 9, preferably formed of metal, and provided with the usual blades 10 and openings 11 for the passage of the liquid or gas by which it is driven.

Threaded or otherwise secured to the outer end of the shaft 7 is a knuckle 12, adapted to support the rear cutters 13. The latter are formed of metal and preferably bow shaped, having their inner ends rabbeted for allowing one to overlap the other. Disposed on the outer end of the knuckle 12, and straddling the scrapers 13, is a knuckle 14, secured to the o posed outer faces of the knuckle 12 by a bolt 15 passing through registering perforations formed in the knuckles 12 and 14 and rear cutters 13. Secured on the outer end of the knuckle 1 1 are the outer cutters 15 of the approximate shape as the cutters 13 having their inner ends rabbeted so as to overlap each other at their connection to the knuckle 14. A bolt 16 performs the function of securing these outters in place.

By referring to Figs. 1 and 4 of" the drawings, it will be seen that the front cutters are considerably in advance of the latter, the function of this construction rendering it possible to remove the entire incrustation' or scale formed on the tube, it being "und.er stood that duringthe journey of the cutters throughthe tube or pipe, the highest portion of the forward cutters will first contact with the inner wall of the tube, but owing to their relative rotary and forward movement will succeed in removing but a portion of the scale, leaving a spiral wake; The rear cutters 13 are so positioned at a point to the rear of the front cutters as to remove the crust left untouched.

Disposed on the rear end of the casing 1 and'suitably secured thereto, as by bolts 16, is a casing cap 17, provided with ports 18 registering with the ports 5- formed in the rear head 3 of'the casing. Interposed be tween the cap 17 and the rear end of the casing is a gasket 19 0f rubberor other flexible material and of an exterior diameter exceedingthat of the casing and cap and slightly greater than the diameter of the tubeor pipe to be cleaned. The function of this element will appear later.

The cap 17 is on its outer face centrally provided with a seat for the reception of the eye bolt 20, and secured to the eye bolt is a cable or wire 21, the function of which is to control'the cleaner on its journey through the tube or pipe. A coupling member in the present instance is illustrated as a split sleeve preferably formed integral and comprising top and bottom sections'22 and 23 held together by bolts and nuts 24. The function of'this member is to'connect the sup ly pipe 25 with the tube or pipe 1. Shoufders are formed on the interior and adjacent the front and rear endsof the sleeve which serve as seats 26 for packing. The latteris held in these seats by adjustable collars 27 disposed on the front and-rear ends of the sleeves and provided with flanges 29 adapted to enter the seats 26 and secured in place by studs 28, preferably formed integral with the sleeve, and their outer ends entering openings formed in the collars 27. Centrally formed on the outer face ofthe section 22 of the sleeve is an offset 29 provided with a bore eX- tending from its outer end and terminating in the bore of the sleeve. The-bore is interiorly'threaded for a portion of its length, and fittedtherein is a metallic packing sleeve 30 ofadiamet-ersufficient to snugly fit over the cable or wire-21. A jam nut 31 is threadpoint of ed on .this sleeve and normally abuts the ter minal of the offset portion 29. The outer end of the acking sleeve may be bifurcated and formed with a beveled end, over which fits the nut 32,.adapted to squeeze the sides of the sleeve together around a wire-or cable 21, thereby forming a tight joint and preventing'the' escape of steam or fluid as the wire or cable is carried through the sleeve at the forward movement of the scrapers.

In the use of the device, the turbine and cutters are first inserted in the tube or ipe to be cleaned, and one end of the coup ling sleeve connected with the terminal of the pipe or'tube, it-being understood that the wire or cable 21 has been threaded through the offset andpacking box. The opposite end of the coupling sleeve is then connected with the supply pipe 25 and the power admitted to the turbine. It will be noted that the steam, compressed air or driving fluid entering the tube or pipe will be prevented from escaping from around the sides of the turbine casing by the gasket 17, thus causing the element of power to enter the ports 18 formed in the cap -17 through the ports 5 formed in the rear head 3 of the turbine casing, and finally to-come in contact with the turbine blades 10, the latter operated in the usual manner to rotate the cutters 13 and 15.-

It will be observed that the incline of the walls of the ports 5 will further increase the velocity of the steam, thus causing the turbine and blades to be rotated more rapidly than they ordinarily would with a different construction. It is further to be observed that where the driving power is insufficient to rotate the four cutters,- either pair may be detached. It can be readily seen that the construction and mounting of these cutters render them adjustable to varying sizes of flues and pipes.

It is to be understood when cleaning boiler tubes such as will not permit the s lit sleeve to be adjusted thereto, the rear wa l 3 of the turbine casing, gasket 19 and cap 17 are removed, and the reducing cap' 33 threaded thereon, as shown in Fig. 3, it will be ob- 1 i i served that the reduced portion of the cap is exteriorly threaded for attachment to a flexible supply pipe. With this construction the device will operate in the well known way. It is to be further observed that inthe'use of the device fo'r'cleaning' water mains, a short piece-of pipe iscut out of'the pipe and the cleanerins'erted therein, the opening is then closed by the split sleeve encircling the pipe line and power is applied through the pipe being cleaned from the regular pumpingsta tion or the like.

That is claimed is 1. A cleaner embodying a turbine wheel and cutters adapted to enter'a pipe-*or tube and mounted on a shaft, a 'casi-ngsurrounding l the turbine having front and rear walls in which the shaft is journaled, the rear wall of I said casing provided with ports leading to the interior of the casing and turbine, a cap secured to the rear wall of said casing, and an element interposed between the cap and casing and adapted to prevent the passage of gas or liquid beyond the exterior of the rear end of said casing.

2. A cleaner embodying a turbine wheel and cutters mounted on a shaft and adapted to enter a pipe or tube, a casing surrounding the turbine having front and rear walls in which the shaft is j ournaled, the rear wall of said casing provided with ports, the walls of which are inclined and lead to the interior of the casing and turbine, a cap secured to the rear wall of said casing provided with ports registering with the ports formed in the rear wall of the casing, a gasket interposed between the cap and rear wall of the casing and adapted to contact with the interior of the tube or pipe to prevent the passage of gas or liquid beyond the exterior of the rear end of the casing.

3. In a boiler tube or pipe cleaner, the combination with a turbine, and a casing covering the same, of a supply pipe for the turbine, a shaft for said turbine, cutters ac- "1 tuated by said shaft, an adjustable coupling l member adapted to connect the supply pipe with one end of a tube or pipe, and exteriorly provided with a hollow oii'set portion, a sleeve threaded in said hollow offset portion, a flexible member having one end connected to said turbine casing and extending through the offset portion and sleeve, and means for tightening said sleeve around said flexible member.

l. In a boiler tube or pipe cleaner, the combination in a turbine wheel and a casing covering the same, of a supply pipe for the turbine, a shaft for said turbine, cutters actuated by said shaft, a member adapted to connect the supply pipe with one end of a tube or pipe and consisting of two sections, seats formed in the opposed ends of said section for the reception ofpacking, an offset portion exteriorly formed on one of said sections and provided with a bore communicat ing with the interior thereof, a split sleeve threaded into said bore, a flexible member extending through the sleeve and bore of the oflset member, and secured to one end of the turbine casing.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own, I have hereto aflixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

ERIK HOGLUND.

Witnesses Mrs. G. H. HAIeI-rT, J. NELsoN. 

